A RENT of just one pine cone a year is a pretty good deal for a property set in acres of land.

But the nominal rent is perfectly in keeping with the ethos of the Tam O' Shanter farm's new building in Bidston, Wirral.

Every inch of it is environmentally friendly and most of the materials come from woodland.

The farm's green resource centre was officially opened after six months of building.

Janet Thorning, chairwoman of the Wirral Urban Farm Association, said: "The office has been knee-deep in wellies for a long time.

"We desperately needed more space.

"We have lots of groups meeting here, including Sure Start, and we have lots of school visits so we needed to expand.

"A lot of hard work has gone into it but the results are amazing. It has a living roof and the walls are all made of natural materials."

The new centre has been long-awaited by helpers on the farm, who have made do with the basic facilities.

They wanted a new centre but it was vital that it was as environmentally-friendly as possible.

Work started in May using green building techniques. The walls are made from straw bales and green oak.

But it's not just a case of going back to basics with construction. Hi-tech devices have been employed to harness and save energy such as photovoltaic panels.

The roof is sedum, a type of plant, and a rainwater recovery system has been installed.

The project has been funded by Onyx Environmental Trust and the Northwest Development Agency, and is the first of its kind in Wirral.

As well as being a valuable asset to the farm, it will also be used by visitors and schoolchildren.

It houses an indoor workshop and storage facilities, a mess room for volunteers and additional toilets. Mrs Thorning added: "The farm was set up to bring a little bit of the country to the town. It's free to visit and the children get to see animals they might not normally have a chance to.

"This building is wonderful because it is educational as well as practical. It shows just what can be done."

The farm was set up in 1985 for urban youngsters to encounter rural life.

As wells as sheep, goats, a Shetland Pony and a donkey, it is home to smaller animals such as guinea fowl and rabbits. More than 2,000 volunteer hours go into its upkeep every year and it runs on a shoestring budget.